What happens to the Cyclone if your mower picks up a rock and blows it into the chipper. Looks like a high maintenance piece of equipement to me.

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No more then any other collection system would be. In fact, possibly less since the cyclone rake uses a special material for their impeller (not a chipper). It's not metal, so it won't crack or dent like a metal impeller could.

I've put half a brick through mine (buried under a pile of leaves) and had no damage. A lot of noise and a handfull of gravel sized brick pieces was all that happened. Used it the rest of 2003 with no problems and ready for this year. They're tough little units, but like I said before, they're not for every job and not for every one.

That is one of the most unique plus features of the Cyclone, is that the impellar is made from a hard elastomer material that is more abrasion-proof than steel and actually gives if it hits something hard, then goes right back to it's original shape. While this material is expensive, it has been used in the mining industry for several years to move crushed rock. I finally got to see one in action, and I think I'm sold. This guy was cutting long thick grass with leaves mixed in, and he was HAULIN' it on his mower. This thing was sucking it up with no problem. He has an Ultra-vac, too, but said if he was going to buy another vac unit, it would be another Cyclone. The capacity is just too much of an asset. Also, the weight factor is completely different, because you're not hauling all the debris weight on the weight of the mower. He said by the time you take the weight of a ZTR, add the vac unit, front weights, then fill the hopper or bags up with material, you really have to watch what you're doing, especially on damper or wetter lawns. There is just too much potential for rutting. With the Cyclone, the unit is completely seperate and doesn't weigh nearly as much.

Joe

Thank you, Dad - for always being the dad that you were. You truly are my hero. You always were.